"Interface: More Sonic the Hedgehog!"Colin Rey from Humber Heights, Ohio asks for more Sonic info from EGM. The magazine gladly obliges with another screenshot from Tokyo Game Toy 1990.

1991-02-01

Mean Machines (UK) #5: "February 1991"

"Pricks at the Speed of Sound"Brief article about the game's appearance at the January 1991 CES at Las Vegas.

1991-02-16

Computer & Video Games (UK) #112: "March 1991"

"Animal Magic"Paragraph about the game's appearance at the January 1991 CES at Las Vegas.

1991-xx-xx

ACE (UK) #43: "April 1991"

"Games News: Sonic the Hedgehog"Paragraph about the game's appearance at the January 1991 CES at Las Vegas. It mentions the rotating Special Stage, and is accompanied by a early screenshot of Marble Zone.

"Preview: Sonic the Hedgehog"Three-page article about the upcoming game, which it states is expected in September. Gameplay is briefly described, though most of the pages are taken up by screenshots, which are from a prototype version. In particular, Spring Yard Zone on the second page is very different. Sonic the Hedgehog is also a cover article on this issue.

"Preview: Sonic the Hedgehog"Two-page article about the upcoming game, where many of the images are from an early prototype. It mistakenly says there are 15 levels split into 5 acts, even though 5 zones are shown total. The first page also mentions a power-up which gives Sonic invincibility and Speed Shoes at once, which is probably a reference to the unused S-monitor which has been found in the game. It also mentions that U.S. Gold has bought the rights to publish home computer versions.

1991-04-25

Raze (UK) #8: "June 1991"

"Sonic the Sega"Short paragraph about game. The writer compares Sonic's appearance to that of Tom from Tom and Jerry.

1991-xx-xx

GamePro (US) #23: "June 1991"

"Genesis ProReview: Sonic the Hedgehog"

1991-xx-xx

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) #29: "June 1991"

"Video Game Reviews: Sonic the Hedgehog"

1991-06-29

Mean Machines (UK) #10: "July 1991"

"Review: Sonic the Hedgehog"Three-page review of the game. The reviewers praise the game's graphics, with its large sprites and detailed backgrounds, as well as its speed and gameplay. Overall they give Sonic a glowing review with a score of 92%.

1991-06-29

Mean Machines (UK) #10: "July 1991"

"Sonic Clampdown"Short article describing Sega's efforts to prevent American copies of Sonic the Hedgehog being sold in Europe, before the game's official European launch.

xxxx-xx-xx

Computer + Video Giochi (IT) #7: "Luglio/Agosto 1991"

"Preview: Sonic the Hedgehog"A two page preview in the July/August 1991 issue, essentially a translation of the English preview seen in Computer and Video Games above.

"Sistema Sega Mega Drive: Sonic the Hedgehog"Brazillian magazine VideoGame reviews what is seemingly a prototype version of the game, awarding it five stars.

1991-xx-xx

ACE (UK) #47: "August 1991"

"Screentest: Sonic the Hedgehog"Three-page review of the game. The reviewer compares it favourably to the recent Super Mario World, praising the game's graphics and speed, as well as the level design and overall size. Scrap Brain Zone is referred to as "Clockwork Zone", its working title before the game was finished.

1991-07-15

Computer & Video Games (UK) #117: "August 1991"

"CVG Hit: Sonic the Hedgehog"Four-page review of the game. The article is poorly written, as incorrect names are used and there is even an upside down image in between pages 3 and 4. They give the game a 96 for graphics, 93 for sounds, 94 for playability, and 91 for "lastability", with a 94 for the overall score.

1991-06-27

Raze (UK) #10: "August 1991"

"Sega City"Two-page article about the game. The writer describes the demo cart they played as consisting of only three zones - Green Hill, "Marble World" and "Star City". They also mention the finished game will be on an 8Mb cart (1 megabyte); the final game was actually released on a 4Mb cart. Several of the screenshots are from earlier versions of the game.

1991-08-xx

Ação Games (BR) #4: "Agosto 1991"

"Select: Sonic the Hedgehog"

1991-xx-xx

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #25: "August 1991"

"Tricks of the Trade: Sonic the Hedgehog"(continues on page 96)

1991-xx-xx

ACE (UK) #48: "September 1991"

"It's Sonic, Guy!"Letter regarding the Sonic the Hedgehog review in ACE #47. The writer points out the "Clockwork Zone" error, and suggests Sonic has better graphics than Super Mario World.

"Rave: Sonic the Hedgehog"Three-page review of the game. The reviewer praises the size and complexity of the levels, and the detailed graphics. He compares the game favourably to Nintendo's Super Mario World, though stops short of saying which is better, and speculates it will sell well.

"Behind the Scenes at Sega of Japan: The Making of Sonic the Hedgehog"

1991-09-15

Computer & Video Games (UK) #119: "October 1991"

"Cheat Mode: Sonic the Hedgehog"Several paragraphs explaining how to beat all six bosses.

1991-08-29

Raze (UK) #12: "October 1991"

"Sonic the Hedgehog: The Hidden Rooms"Four-page guide for the game, consisting mainly of the locations of hidden items and rooms in the first five zones (up to Star Light Zone), and a large map of Green Hill Zone act 2. The level select code is also described, with an accompanying screenshot.

xxxx-xx-xx

Console Mania (IT) #1: "Ottobre 1991"

"Sonic the Hedgehog"

1991-xx-xx

Hobby Consolas (ES) #1: "Octubre 1991"

"Lo Más Nuevo: Sonic"

199x-10-xx

Ação Games (BR) #6: "Outubro 1991"

"Superestratégia Mega Drive: Sonic the Hedgehog"

1991-10-08

ACE (UK) #50: "November 1991"

"Reviews Directory: Sonic the Hedgehog"Short recap of the review from ACE #47. The previous score of 94% is rounded up to 5 stars out of 5.

1991-10-08

ACE (UK) #50: "November 1991"

"Tricks 'n' Tactics: Sonic the Hedgehog"Three-page guide of the game, explaining how to deal with the features of each zone and going into detail about Scrap Brain Zone. One page is dedicated to tips for beating all the bosses in the game.

"RoboCod Review: Alternatives - Sonic the Hedgehog"During MegaTech's review of James Pond II: Codename RoboCod, they offer Sonic the Hedgehog as an alternative, and rate it 92%. MegaTech did not exist when Sonic debuted earlier in the year, so this also acts as a quick catch-up.

"Reviews-Genesis: Sonic the Hedgehog"A two page feature of Sonic the Hedgehog in a 1992 issue of Sega Visions magazine. The strategy guide gives tips on how to find secrets or pass certain parts of the game. For some reason the first page calls it a review even though no scores are given.

"Lookback: Sonic the Hedgehog"Half-page review, referencing a previous review in Mean Machines #10 (where the game was given a score of 92%). The writers now say the game is too easy, and has aged poorly in comparison to the newer Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

"Sonic the Hedgehog: A New Superstar"A five page preview, mentioning that Game Players Sega Genesis Strategy Guide are previewing is a preliminary version. The sunflowers of Green Hill Zone are green, but the rolling ball is still in place.

"U.S. National Video Game Team's Super Play: Sonic the Hedgehog"A four page strategy guide in the October 1991 issue of the US magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly. It features a walkthrough for the first two levels, Green Hill Zone and Marble Zone.

Beep!

Preview (August 1990)

Translation

“They are trying to create a new original character with this “Sonic the Hedgehog”. Please stay tuned for further details.”

Main text: “For release next Spring comes an original character action game from Sega.

“We don’t have details on what sort of game this will turn out to be but judging from screens it looks quite different from anything we’ve seen to date from Sega. We think the colorful and bright graphics could turn out to be popular.

“It remains to be seen whether this will turn into another Alex Kidd Osaaru for Sega!”

Left picture caption: “The title screen. Will this become another popular original character for Sega?”

Right picture caption: “Will it be cute character graphics with whimsical action?”

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Overview (November 1992)

This magazine gives a small overview of the game.

Games TM

Retrospective

This clip from "Games TM" features a retrospective of Eggman and dwells on what makes him a memorable villian.

Game Players

Pack-ins

This clip from gameplayers is from the 1991 issue of Gameplayers Sega Genesis Strategy Guide. It explains how there were two different Genesis pack-in games, Altered Beast and Sonic the Hedgehog. The Altered Beast package comes with a coupon for a free Sonic 1 game. The bottom letter contains a silly mock-up.

Press Start (Jan/Feb 1991)

May/June 1991

Deleted Features

This clip from United Kingdom's Sega Magazine (which later became Sega Saturn magazine) discusses things which were deleted from the final version of Sonic the Hedgehog, including his air punch end of level animation, the Marble Zone UFOs, and the rolling ball from Green Hill Zone.

Contest (Fall 1991)

This is an article detailing a contest to draw a Sonic Comic book for Sega Visions.

Unknown Magazine

Madonna

This clip details Sega's business strategy around 1991. It also makes mention of Sonic's scrapped love interest in the original Sonic the Hedgehog, called Madonna. Images of her can be found in the Game Development/Development section.